Sea Witch clipper 1846- Lindberg Pastic kit 1/96

[KimW]

This is my third kit in progress. This is the current kit that I am working on at this time. I want to get the copper on the hull before I switch back to the America.

 

This kit has good bones and it is molded well. The detail is simple and a bit heavy. The hull has no plank detail or copper plate at all.  The lifeboats have no plank detail at all. There is no windlass. The kit directions would have you owe 1/16 inch cotter keys for eyebolts that are much too large. I have purchased a laser cut wood deck for the build.

 

Missing details like the Hawse ports, railing for the fore deck, billboards for the anchors will have to be added.  There are a lot of opportunities for fun in this build. I will probably buy my blocks and deadeyes from Bluejacket.

 

More to come soon!

[KimW]

Attached are photos concerning my current status on the Sea Witch.

 

the hull was glued together and reinforced with epoxy and epoxy putty. The kit rudder was removed. Billboards for the anchors were added. Most of the holes in the hull were filled. This  process includes the aft bumpkins as they will be installed higher on the hull.  Eyebolts of metal were installed in the bow. The unrealistic fish tail  on the figurehead was removed from the hull,; it will be replaced with a dragons tail similar to the one depicted below. The figure head molded into the hull looks like a dazed dolphin with cherub wings and a  fish tail. The goal is to provide a Chinese black dragon, which is the symbol  of commerce.

 

It was necessary to remove the sharp steps along the keel and it proved need full to face the keel to get some extra width for the pedestal screws. I will be using a M3 all thread rod in lieu of screws. I am putting together some interior blocks to allow me to install a temporary handle and add a baseboard and pedestals later.

 

A new  rudder was fabricated  similar to what is shown in figure below. I am fitting the pintles and gudgeons mow, but I cannot install them until the rudder is coppered. The hull was scored to represent planks on the upper hull. The bottom will remain smooth. It will be painted a copper and copper tape will be applied over it. I made a a detailed transom decoration and test fit it in a photo below.

I am working on installing a windlass under the foredeck. Photos to follow.
 

That is it for now. Mote to.come!